| Based on the theories of body and gender,visual communication,semiotics,iconography and other related theories,this paper integrated the research methodologies of literature review,image analysis and logic analysis,in order to investigate the current situation of female participation in sports and the characteristics and changes of female sports.268 sports prize-winning photographs in the World Press Photo(that is WPP)were chosen from 1955 to 2020 as samples.Those examples excavated the female's body and femininity,revealed the sexism and stereotype in the prize-winning photographs,and also reflected the world sports cultural.Firstly,WPP sports photography showed the current situation of female's participation in sports from the aspects of age,region,sport venues,etc.Female's participation in sports tournament showed their physical liberation,gender discrimination and inequality.Female in daily training and life showed that female struggled against physical defects and diseases,and in addition they were oppressed in terms of religion and class.Female in leisure sports showed their life experience,behavior,attitude,and psychological factors.Secondly,WPP sports photography created the feminine,sexualized,disciplined and oppressed female body from the aspects of sports event,facial expression,body position,and camera angle.Female participation in sports is been segregated,ignored or even marginalized,to ensure that the female athletes won't become a major threat to the hegemonic ideology of male athleticism,masculinity,and power.Thirdly,the healthy,sunny female body expressed female's pursuit of equality,self-control and self-definition.But female's pursuit is restricted by historical constraints and consumer orientation,as well as men's continuing attempts to retain power and privilege over women.Finally,the prize-winning sports photographs in WPP focused on the people-oriented photography concept,emphasized the value and significance of sports and life,and reflected humanistic spirit of the works.Female participation in sports is still restrained and controlled by economic,political,cultural and other factors.Overall,sports photography has shaped and strengthened the cultural mechanism with patriarchy as the center,and has manifested the gender system and the gender power relations in the sports field.Therefore,WPP sports photography should set up a fair screening mechanism of gender selection and establish an equal concept of gender selection,correctly understand women's participation in sports,and affirm the significance and value of female sports to create a fair and equal selection environment,and to promote the healthy and sustainable development of female sports. |
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